Marichi
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Rishi Marichi or Mareechi (ṛṣi Marīci, ऋषि मरीचि) (meaning a ray of light) is the son of Brahma, the cosmic creator, and also one of the Saptarshi (Seven Great Sages Rishi), in the First Manvantara, with others being Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashishtha [1].
Before the creation started, Lord Brahma needed a few people who can be held responsible for the creation of the remaining universe. Therefore he created 10 Prajapatis (Ruler of the people) from his Manas (Mind) and 9 from his body. Marichi is one of the manasaputras of Lord brahma. The 10 Prajapatis are as follows:
Marichi is then married to Kala and gave birth to Kashyapa (Kashyapa is also sometimes acknowledged as a Prajapati, who has inherited the right of creation from his father).
Legend has it that the mighty Vajrayudha of Indra is gotten from Marichi. Once the demons, or Asuras, defeated the Devas and the Devas had to take refuge in the forests. Not knowing where to safe-keep their weapons, Devas approached Marichi, who is also their grand father penancing on the Mahendragiri. Marichi agreed to safe-keep the weapons until a time when Devas can gain back their strength and muster up courage to fight back Asuras.
The Asuras to whom Marichi is also a grandfather, approached Marichi and tried to persuade him to part with the weapons of the Devas. Marichi then melts all the weapons and swallows them up in order to save them from the Asuras.
When Devas return to Marichi, he tells them the whole story and Devas are dejected, since there is no way to get the weapons back without losing Marichi himself. Marichi informs the Devas that his time to salvation has come and he hands over the work of creating and sustaining the human race to his son Kashyapa. Marichi then renounces his body and attains moksha.
The Devas get back their weapons from his bones of which the vajrayudha is his back-bone (Hence the luster for the Vajrayudha). With the new weapons, the Devas defeat the Asuras and get back the riches they have lost.
Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita says, "Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon."[2]
Ravana, the mighty Asura king is also from the progeny of Marichi. He is the son of Visravasu, who is the son of Poulasthya, who is in turn the son of Sage Kashyapa, Son of Marichi.
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[edit] References
- ^ Inhabitants of the Worlds Mahanirvana Tantra, translated by Arthur Avalon, (Sir John Woodroffe), 1913, Introduction and Preface. The Rishi are seers who know, and by their knowledge are the makers of shastra and "see" all mantras. The word comes from the root rish Rishati-prapnoti sarvvang mantrang jnanena pashyati sangsaraparangva, etc. The seven great Rishi or saptarshi of the first manvantara are Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vashishtha. In other manvantara there are other sapta-rshi. In the present manvantara the seven are Kashyapa, Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja. To the Rishi the Vedas were revealed. Vyasa taught the Rigveda so revealed to Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaishampayana, the Samaveda to Jaimini, Atharvaveda to Samantu, and Itihasa and Purana to Suta. The three chief classes of Rishi are the Brah-marshi, born of the mind of Brahma, the Devarshi of lower rank, and Rajarshi or Kings who became Rishis through their knowledge and austerities, such as Janaka, Ritaparna, etc. Thc Shrutarshi are makers of Shastras, as Sushruta. The Kandarshi are of the Karmakanda, such as Jaimini.
- ^ Bhagavad Gita 10.21
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